The Sponsored Projects Academy occurs biannually at the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno to educate and train administrative staff dealing with the lifecycle of grant proposals and sponsored projects. The training sessions help University faculty and staff gain a better understanding of policies, compliance laws, regulations, subcontractors, and more.
“Despite working at the University for many years and having some interaction with the office of Sponsored Projects prior to my employment in Research and Innovation, I feel like I don’t know enough about what they do,” Niki Strataras, a current participant in the academy and project manager in the division, said. “I want to learn more about how all of their processes flow, as I think that it could be beneficial in my conversations with principal investigators on their awards.”
There is the Introductory Sponsored Projects Academy each fall semester, ending this year on Nov. 15, which is a prerequisite for the advanced series in the spring. For those hoping to enroll in the Advanced Sponsored Projects Academy, the recorded introductory sessions will be provided beforehand.
Year to year, Sierra Hooft, outreach manager with Sponsored Projects, said they try to update their material to make sure they are following the current policies and procedures, but the goal remains the same.
“If you have staff who are well-equipped and know the resources available to them, it helps our campus also have a well-equipped workforce to advance research,” Hooft said. “We hope these training opportunities will help enhance competitive proposals and increase chances of getting funded. Also, we’re building confidence in our administrative team members and ultimately helping them become better research administrators.
The sessions are held over Zoom, which Hooft said helps with building networks and friendships. Experts involved with the topics being covered, such as animal welfare or financial management, are brought in to highlight the most important information.
“I think it’s been well received since we started this academy,” she said. “There’s always a registration list full of people who are willing to attend, and there’s been good feedback afterward with surveys assuring us that the information is valuable and they can carry these resources forward in their work.”
For the future, Sponsored Projects is looking at implementing an academy for principal investigators. It would be more research-focused instead of administratively focused.
It is not too late to join the program; one can enroll anytime during the semester or even afterward, although participants would need to watch prerecorded lectures for any missed sessions. If you are interested in participating this fall, in the spring, or have any questions about Sponsored Projects, contact Hooft via email.
